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(N0 Model.) 9 Sheets-,Sheet 1.

H911 an D.. W. SWIFT.

4 ENVEL'OPE MACHINE.

No. 542,353. Patented July 9, 1895.

(NoModel.) 5 sheets-sheet 2. H. D. D. W. SWIFT. ENVELPE MACHINE.

1255511555 July 9, 1895.

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(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 3,

H. .D 8u D. W; SWF'IL- ENVELOPB MAGHINB.

No. 542,353. .Patented July 9, 1395.

(N o Model.;y T I 9 'Sheets-Sheet 5.

5.13.8 D. W. :SWIFT ENVELOPE MACHINE.

' No. 542,353T Patented July 9, 1895.

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' 9 Sheets-Sheet 6. H. D. 8v D. W. SWIFT. ENVELOPB MAGHINB.

' N0.542,s53. .Patented July 9, 1895.

U11-1525555. y. QJ-Eqtns- (NO Model- 9 sheets-sheet 7.

f H. D. 8u D. W. SWIFT.

EN VELOPE MACHINE.

(No Model.) 9 sheets-'sheet 8.

H. D. an D. W.-'SWIFT. BNVBLOPB MACHINE.

No. 542,353. Patented July 9, 1895.

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H. D. 81; D. W. SWIFT.-

ENVELOPE MAUHINE. 4 No. 542,353. Patented July 9, 1895.

Jr-Hl l .MAE/5555- lqLl-r-:qtugi @mmw/)ZZ g/ www @MQW l UNITEDw STATES PATENT OFFICE..

HENRY D. SWIFT AND DANEL WHEELER SWIFT, OF WORCESTER, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE LOGAN, SWIFT da BRIGHAM ENVELOPE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

eNveLoPE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ]`:atent No. 542,353, dated July 9, 1895.

Application Bled April 23, 1886. Serial No. 199,954. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

y Be it known that We, HENRY D. SWIFT and DANIEL WHEELER SWIFT, citizens of the Y United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelope Machines, of which the following is a specication, reference being had to the accompanying draw- Io ings, in which p Figure l represents a side elevation ofone of our improved machines. Fig. Elisa front elevation. Fig. 3 is a top View with lthe mirror omitted. Fig. f1 is a sectional view, the

I5 side frame of the machine opposite that shown in Fig. 1 having been removed. Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the central portion of the machine and with the pick-ups removed.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the mechanism forzo feeding the blanks to thegumming mechanism or pick-ups. Figs. 7 and 8 show detached portions of the same. Figs. 9, 10, and 11 show the relative positions of the sliding rack by which the surface of the gumming-roll pre- `sented Ito. the pick-ups is varied. Fig. 12 shows an'elevation of the folder for folding the back flap of the envelope. Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 14 is a top view of the bed on `which the envelopes are 3o folded. Fig. 15 vis a side view of the same, and Figs. 16 and 17 are sectional views of the same. Figs. 18 and 19 are top and side views of the mechanism directly employed in delivering the envelope from the folding to the drying mechanism, and Figs. 2O and 21 show detached portions ofthe same. Figs. 22 and 23.are top and side views" of the countingA mechanism. Fig.` 24 shows a rear view of a portion of the counting mechanism. Figs. 25 4o and 26 show detached portions of the counting mechanism. Fig. 27 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the method of presenting the envelope to the successive operations of the machine. Fig. 28 is a side view ofthe drier, showing the method of regulating the current of air upon the envelopes and also showing the arrangement of the stop mechanism, which has been omitted from the other views to avoid confusion; and Figs. 29 and 30 show 5o detached portions ofthe stopping mechanism.

Our invention relates to those portions of an envelope-machine employed in feeding, gumming, folding, drying, bunching, and counting; and ourinvention consists, first, in providing means for feeding the blanks to the act-ion ofthe pick-ups, whereby the pile of blanks is maintained at the proper vertical height, and as the blanks become exhausted the feeding motion shall cease and the feeding-table shall automatically fall to its lowest 6o position to receive a new supply of blanks; second, in providing tapered and spring-actuated gages for bringing the pile of blanks Vin suitable position to be gummed by the pickups; third, ini controlling the rotation of the gumming-roll so as to secure arolling contact with the gum-box roll, and also to vary the surface in contact with the pick-ups, whereby We are able to distribute gum to the pick-ups as the gumming-roll moves both away from 7b and toward the gum-box, which causes two envelopes to be gummed at each reciproca tion of thergumming-roll; fourth, in the construction of the mechanism forgumming and picking up the blanks, as hereinafter described; fifth, in applying a spring-pressure to the face of the folder for folding the back flaps and in the construction of the same;` sixth, in providing means for adjusting the movable edge of the bed on which the envel- 5o opes are folded, so as to regulate the pressure upon the edge of the envelope; seventh, .in providing means by which the envelopes, af-

vterhaving been fed to the folding mechanism air, which move from the center outward and i beneath the seal-aps; eleventh, in providing pockets to sustain the envelopes in a radial position in the drier and at the same time permit the free circulation of a radial airblast; twelfth, in means for varying the ralos dial air-blast; thirteenth, in the combination, with the bunching and counting mechanism, of a tripping-finger which is moved laterally by the passage of the envelope and brought within the action of Aoperating mechanism which withdraws it from contact with and carries it out of the path of the envelope; fourteeuth, in interposing in the path of certain of the envelopes to be bunched a body with an oblique edge or surface by whose contact the envelope is slid endwise as it rests on its edge; tifteenth,in the arrangement and combination, in an .envelope-machine, of the operating parts by which the envelopes are gummed, folded, and dried, whereby the blanks are presented with their seal-flaps foremost, and the envelopes are entered in the drier with their back tiaps foremost and withdrawn from the drier' and presented to the bunching mechanism with their sea1-f1aps downward and rearward; sixteenth, in providing means by which the operation of transferring the envelopes from the folder to the drier may be observed by the attendant from a position in front of the machine; seventeenth, in providingr stopping mechanism by which the incomplete delivery of envelopes to the drier checks the operation of the machine; eighteenth, and our invention also further consists in certain details of construction and arrangement by which the successive operatons of the machine are accomplished, as hereinafterdescribed,andspecifically pointed out in the claims.

The framework of our machine consists of the sides A A, supporting the table B, upon which are the stands C C', with bearings at their tops for the rocking shaft a, and between which is placed a shelf or table supporting the gum-box b, having a roll b rotated through the intermediate shaft b2 and a system of bevel-gears by the main shaft D, which is journaled in bearings in the sides A A and extends transversely through the machine and is driven by the belt-pulley D. On the opposite end ofthe main shaft the pinion c engages a gear c of twice its size, running loosely on a fixed stud in the frame. Attached to the gear c are cams c2 and c3, Fig. 2, the cam c2 actuating the rock-shaft a through the crank-arm c4 and connectingrod c5, which we attach to the lever r6 pivoted to the frame at c7 and carrying a cam-roll a8. The cam c3, through the connecting-rod c" and crank-arm cm, oscillates the rack-actuating sleeve c11 on the rocking shaft a. To the rockshaft a we attach arms c', connected by links a2 with the sleeves a3, sliding on the rods or ways a4 and which carry the bearings of the gumming-rolls a5 and a, which are caused to traverse to and from the gum-box roll b', the roll 0,5 passing beneath and in contact with the back-flap gummer or pick-up d and the seal-flap gummer or pickup d and the roll a beneath the side-Hap gummer orpick-up d2. The pick-ups d, d', and d2 are attached to and carried by the overhanging arm (Z3 projecting from the slide d", sliding in V-shaped ways in the stand C with an intermittent vertical reciprocating motion, imparted by the lever d5 pivoted at d6, Fig.

5, and actuated by a suitably-formed cam on.

the main `shaft D. We piace a yielding connection between the lever d5 and slide d4, consisting of a link dipivoted at its lower end to the lever d5, a rod dspivoted at its upper end to the slide d,and a spring d, whose tension acts to resist the sliding motion of the rod in the link, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

A gear e is placed on the shaft of the gumroll b' and outside its bearings, and in algu ment with iton the shaft of the gumming-rolls a5 and a6 is a gear e', which engages the gear e as the gumrning-rolls are brought in con tact, as shown in Fig. 9, and as the diameters of the rolls b and a5 and of equals that of the pitch-lines of gears c and e' the equal angular velocity and consequent rolling contact of the rolls is secured.

4In ways attached to the stand C we place a sliding rack e2 actuated by the oscillation of the sleeve c11 `through a link e4 and an arm e3 attached to the sleeve, and as the gu m mingrolls are carried away from the gum-box roll b the gear e. is made to engage with the rack e2, securing a rolling contact of the gummingroll a5 with the under side of the back-flap gummer or pick-up d. As the gear e passes to the position of gumming the seal-flap gummer or pick-up d,as shown in Fig. 10, the rack e2 is moved, as indicated by the arrow, accelerating the rotation of the gu mmingrolls for the purpose of bringing a portion of the surface of the gumming-roll a5 in contact with the seal'flap gummeror pick-up d', which was not previously broughtin contact with the pick-up d. After the passage of the gum# |ning-roll a5 beneath the seal-flap gummer d the rack c2 is moved still further in the same direction, the rack and gear assuming the position shown in Fig. l1. The reciprocating motion of the pick-up is then effected, gummiug the first in the pile of blanks held on the tablef, Figs. 2, (Land 7. The motion of the gumming-roll is then reversed, passing beneath and gumming the pick-ups d', d, and d2, the rack e2 being moved back as the roll a5 passes between the pickups d and cl, so as to bring a new surface in contact with the pick-up d, and as the gear e is disengaged from the rack a fourth motion of the rack brings it again to its Iirst position, as shown in Fig. 9. The reciprocating motion of the pick-ups is again made anda second blank in the pileof blauksonthetablefisgumuied.

It will be seen that two envelope-blanks are gummed by each complete reciprocation of the gumming-roll, the sliding motion of the rack e2 being so timed as to present a new portion of the surface of the gumming-roll at each contact with a pick-up. The motion of the rack will depend ot' course upon'the size of the gumming-roll and the distance it traverses between the pick-ups.

IOC

- tached to the rod f11 extends over the pileof,

The blanks are placed upon the horizontal feeding-table f, attached to a vertical slide f', Fig. '7, whose lower end is connected by a link f2 with a crank f3 on the end of a short horizontal shaft f4, having a bearing in a sleevef5 attached by a flange to a stand f6,

Fig. 4, which is secured'to the table B, Fig. 2. Pivoted on the sleeve-fl5 is a frame f7, carrying a pawl f8 engaging a ratchet-wheel fg on the outer end of the horizontal shaft f4. The weight of the framef7 and its pawl is sustained by the tension of the spring f10, Fig. 2, uponarod f 11, 'Held by the frame A is a sleeve f12 with an arm fn, Figs. 2 and 4,

to which is pivoted a vertical rod f14, slidingf in bearings in the shelf or table sustainingV the gum-bolx b. At the opposite end of the sleeve f12 is an yarm f15, Fig. 5, carrying a cam-balL-held in contact by a spring f17 ony arm fm with a' cam fm, Fig. 2, by which the sleeve f12 is oscillated at each revolution of the main shaft and a reciprocating motion given to the vertical rod fm. A tingerf18 atblanks on the table f, and a collar midway the rod carries, in projecting lugs, the adjusting-screws f19 and f2". A hand-wheelf21 is placed on the end of `the horizontal shaft f4. A retaining-pawl f22 is pivoted to the frame A, and between the ratchet-wheel and handwheel we pivot on the horizontal shaft anV arm f2s, Fig. 8, carrying an arc-shaped camplatefit, having a projecting spur or handle f2.5, which may be brought toward the front of the machine, carrying the inclined surfaces of the cam-plate j'24 beneath projecting pins on the pawls]E8 and f, thereby disengaging both pawls simultaneously from the ratchetwheel and allowing its motion to be reversed.

The operation of feeding is carried on as follows: A pile of blanks isplaced onthe horizontal table f and brought up against the finger or feeler f18, and in position to be struckvby the downward motion of the pick-ups. As. the blanks are successively gummed and carried to the folding mechanism the rod f14 is permitted by the linger fw to` bring the screw f20 against the frame f7 andy its lowest dead center to its highest, when any fu rther rotation of the ratchet-wheel will carry the crank past its upper dead-centerv and its forward motion will be continued by its own weight and that of the table f, causing it to fallV and the crank to assume the position shown in Figs. 2 and 7, with the ytable f at its lowest point, in position to be again filled with blanks and theoperation of feeding resumed.

The pile of blanks is maintained in suitable position on the table by the-guide-rods A f2s, Fig. 6, against which the blanks are held by tapered gages f2?, Figs. 2 and 6, on armsv pivoted to the framework ofthe machine and pressed against the blanks by springs f2s. The envelope-blanks as they are raised from the pile by adhesion to the gummers or pickups are separated from the pick-ups by being brought in contact with the under side of the shelf supporting the gum-box as the pick-ups pass through, the shelf in their upward motion, and each blank so raised is seized by the projecting spurs or hooks of the reciprocating carriage G, which passes beneath the elevated blank and onits return motion carries it over the folding-bed Q- and beneath the plunger Q', whosezdownward motion brings the blank in position to be folded by the action of the hinged folders, the end flaps by the folders Q2 Q2, the back tlap bythe folder Q8, and the seal-Hap by the lip or rib Q4. The horns Q5 on the folders Q2. prevent the sealflap from coming incontact with and adhering to the envelope.

We accomplish the complete and perfect vcontact of the gummed surface of the back flap, without reference to the thickness of the paper, by means of a back-flap folder. (Illustrated in detail in Figs. 12 and 13.) The spindle Q6, journaled in bearings at each end, forms the pintle of the folder, which is composed of an arm Q7 attached to the pintle and a plate Q8 adapted to apply a pressure to the surface ofthe back flap to properly fold the edgeand insure `the union of its gummed surface with the envelope. vThe lower edge of the plate Q8 is inserted in the pintle and rests against a shoulder or lip Q9, while the plate itself is held by a screw-bolt Q and nuts Q11 firmly against an elastic washer Q12, interposed between the plate gsand the flange Q14 of the sleeve Q13. K

The arm Q' carries a sleeve Q13, concentrically inclosing the bolt Q1O and having a screw-threaded connection with the arm Q7. The sleeve Q13 is provided with a flange Q11-, which rests against the elastic washer Q1g and is provided with holes Q to allow a lever or Spanner to beused in turning the sleeve Q13 in the arm Q7. Whenever it is desired to increase the tension of the elastic washer Q12 thenuts Q11are screwed up against thefend of the sleeve Q13, compressing the elastic ICO IIO

IZO

washer Q1.2 between the folding-plate Q8 and l QT andfolding-plate Q8 the screw-threaded l sleeve Q13 is turned in the arm Q7 and carried toward the plate g8, thereby carrying the bolt gli and moving the folding-plate away from the arm g7 a distance equal to the compression of the elastic washer by the tightening of the nuts g, and thereby preserving the proper parallelism of the folding-plate g8 with the folding-bed g.

By inserting the edge of the plate g8 below the concentric surface of the pintle and holding it against a shoulder g we secure a close joint as presented to the edge of the envelope in forming the folded edge, and at the same time allow the plate gS to recede to accommodate itself to paper of different thicknesses.

As the folding-plate is brought down upon the bed g the pressure upon the interposed envelope will vary with any change in the tension of the elastic washer Q12. The washer Q12 not only regulates the amount of pressureexerted by the foldingplate, but it also serves to equalize the pressure, for an increase in the pressure on one side bf the plate will cause a yielding of the washer on that side of the plate g8 and vary its plane about the washer as a fulcrum. rPhe mechanism for actuating the folding-flaps forms no part of our present invention, and is not thereforeshown in detail in the drawings. are attached to the pintles of the folders with connected rods i', which are drawn down by cams on the main shaft, raising the folders, and are carried up by springs, (partly shown at t2, Figs. 2 and 5.)

The folding-bed g consists of a central solid portion surrounded by a rectangular frame h, supported at the three points 71. and vertically adjustable, so its upper surface will be held even with the central bed g, or dropped below to relieve the edges ofthe envelope from pressure. The vertical adjustment of the frame 7L is made by the three levers 7a2, h2, and 7a3, similar in construction and identical in operation. The frame 7L is supported on the ends of these levers, which are t'ulcrumed mid-- way their length and have their opposite ends depressed to raise the frame by means of the screws h4, which enter the bed beneath the levers and bear upon chairs 715, whose convex surfaces h6 are seated in the levers to accommodate their rocking motion.

The mechanism employed in transferring the envelope from the folding-bed g. to the drier is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and in detail in Figs. 18 to 2l, while the operation itself is illustrated in the diagram forming Fig. 27. Two scroll-shaped wingsj are attached by bars j with rings j?, which turn on bearings `at each side of the folding-bed and whichv are eccentric to the pintle j of the seal-flap folder g4. To one of the rings j2 we attach a gear jt, Fig. 4, meshing with the geared vibrating sector j, which is actuated by a cam on the main shaft and the springs j, Fig. 4, producing a vibrating motion of the geared sectorand a corresponding motion of the scroll j, timed to accord with the operation of the folding mechanism. During the operation of fold- Crank-arms c', Fig. 5,`

ing the scroll j assumes the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 19, the Wings of the scroll passing down through the slots 71.7, Figs. 14 and 18, and bringing the straight edges ji just below the surface of the folding-bed. Upon the completion of the folding the scroll moves to the position shown in Fig. 19, raising the euvelope from the folding-bed and carrying it over upon the conveyer 7a, the seal-nap edge of the envelope resting during its passage upon the a1igesj8,\vl1icli, for convenience of construction, we make hook-shaped, as shown bythe two views in Fig. 21, the vertical flanges jg, Fig. 21, preventing any movement of the envelope endwise. Guards jm, Fig. 5, are also used, curved concentrically with the motion of the envelope and attached to the Side plates j, Fig. 5, which prevent the lateral displaceflanges js, are placed above the plane of the folding-bed, so as to cause the envelope to be raised as it passes tothe conveyer 7a. We not only effect the complete delivery of the cnvelopes from the foldingbed by the single action of the scroll j, but we turn the envelopes, which we have brought to the folding mechanism with their seal-flaps foremost, so as to present them to the drier with the back iiap foremost and with the folded side of the envelope downward, as illustrated in Fig. 27.

The conveyer 7c consists of a plate slightly' curved in a portion of its surface to form a depression for the seal-flap, having its rear edge hooked at 7o to strike against the edge of the envelope as it is carried to the drier and its forward end hooked at 7a2 to withdraw an envelope from the drier on its return movement.

The plate 7c we hinge at 7c3 to a stand 7dL projecting upward from a slide 7c5 sliding in ways beneath the folding-bed and actuated by a crank 7c, Figs. 2 and 4, connected with the lug 767, Fig. 19. The crank 7a is attached to a short shaft 7.28, Figs. 1 and 2, passing beneath the bed B and having a crank 709, Figs. 1 and 3, at its outer end. A connecting-rod 701, Fig. l, carrying a camroll, is actuated by the cam 7a, causing an oscillation of the crank-shaft ka and carrying the conveyer 7o to the position in the drier indicated by broken lines, Fig. 19, the edgcsj7 of the scroll serving as guides to hold the envelope in position on the conveyer and prevent its being raised by the curling of the freshly-gummed and undried sealfiap.

The drier is composed of two disks L L having a series of equidistant racks arranged concentrically about the disks and attached to them at Z. Each rack consists of the radial bars l connected at their inner ends by a central bar Z2, having a linger Z3 extending radially outward. `The spaces between the racks form pockets for the envelopes, whose inner i. through the envelope-pockets.

' brought in position to bc engaged by hook k2v edges rest at each end on the internal flanges?. The backs of the envelopes rest against the lowerV or straight sides of the racks, Fig. 19, and the surface inclosed` by the broken line Z5, Fig. 18, presses against the back iiap.- The curved surface Z6 of .the central linger allows the seal-flap to stand away from the envelope and permit the free circulation of air over its gummed surface.

The disks L L', connected by the racks, as described, rotate in bearings Z7, Fig. 3, at the rear of the machine. A ratchet-wheel Z8, turning on the central shaft ofthe drier, is attached to the disk L by a bolt Z9, passing through a slot Z10 in the ratchet, which permits the drier to be adjusted with Vreference to the ratchet-wheel, so as to bring the pockets in proper position to receive an envelope at the forward movement of the conveyer Za. A lever Z11, pivoted concentrically with' the ratchet-wheel and carrying the actuating-pawl Z12, is vibrated through a bar Z1s by a cam on the main shaft and the spring Z14. The action of the operating mechanism just described moves the drierin the direction of the arrow in Fig. 19 and causes the rack next below the newly-inserted envelope to lift it from the conveyer k, and at the same time to bring an envelope whichhas completed the circuit of the drier beneath the conveyer in position to be engaged. by the hook 702 and withdrawn into the curved chute Z012 leading to the bnnching and counting mechanism. The inner sides 0f the cross-bars Z2 in the racksare beveled to an edge, as at Z15, Fig. 19, to readily admit the circulation of air from the Vcentral portion of the drier outward This current of air is carried in our machine radially outward beneath the seal-Haps instead of across' the envelopes from end to end, as has been hcretoforedonc, and we generate a current of air in our present machine by a revolving fan Z16 on a shaft Z17, Fig. 3, held in bearings concentric with the drier and driven through the intermediate gearing Z151, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, by a bevel-gear Z19 on the main shaft; buta current of air may be taken in at the center by a conduit from a fan or blower outside.

We receive air into the drier at the side,

as shown in Fig. 28, and 'the several openings As the conveyer Zr is delivering an envelope to the drier and an envelope is being by the rotation of the drier the scroll is carried to the position indicated by broken lines in Fig. 19 and the operation of folding repeated, after which the synchronous movements of conveyer and scroll bring them to the position shown in Fig. 19, carrying the `envelope `onto the conveyer Zo.

Above the conveyer Zc we place a mirror M,

held by the horizontal arm M and post M2 and inq position to enable the atteudantatthe front of the machine to watch the delivery of envelopes to the drier.

In order to enable the attendant to more easily remove waste when necessary, the conveyer is hinged at k3 to the stand h4 and maintained in its normal position, when in operation, by a spring Z513.

The envelopes as conveyed from the drier by the chute k12 fall in front of the pusher, with their seal-flap edges resting ou the ways p m and with their folded side next the pusher,

which is composed of a plate m at'the end of a pivoted lever m2, oscillated'on the center m3 by a cam m4 and a spring m5, Fig. 5.

The envelope is carried by the forward motion of the pusher off the ways m into the till m5 past the lips s s', which prevent the return of the envelope, and brought in contact with the curved and forked tripping-finger m7, Fig. 25, attached to a rockingV shaft m8 and having a radial arm m9, at whose outer end m10 the curved bar m11 is pivoted. To the free end of the bar m11 we apply the drawing tension of the spring m12, attached at m13 to a rigid portion of the machine. The forward movement ofl the envelope, pressing against the curved tips of the 'ringer m7, rocks the shaft m8 and elevates the outer end of the radial arm m9, bringingthe line of draft, as exerted by the spring m12, between the points m10 and m13 and above the axis of the shaft m8, when the tension of the spring m12 will throw the finger m7 downward, lin the position shownrin Fig. 23, out of the path of the envelope, and as the tips of the finger m7 move in a curved line they are instantly withdrawn from contact with the envelope, which prevents the indentation or abrasion of the surface of the envelope, which is liable to be produced when the .counting-finger or equivalent device is moved on the surface of the envelope. When the linger lm7 is in the position shown in Fig 25 the line of draft between the points m10 and m13 should pass through the axis of the linger m7, so that a very slight movement of the finger by the moving envelope will cause the spring to instantly trip the finger m7.

Journaled in bearings beneath the rocking shaft m8 is a shaft m14, carrying a ratchetwheel m15, a plate-wheel m16having a notch m33, and a worm m18. 'Pivoted on the shaft m14 is a bell-crank lever, the arm m19, carrying a pawl m20, pivoted on the arm, and the` lon(r arm m21 carr infr a cam-roll which is n a .Y a i held in contact with a cam on the main shaft by a spring applied to the arm 'm21 and not shown.

This actuating-cam is designed to neath the rocking shaft, Fig. 25, to which a cam-shaped arm m24 is attached in position to bear upon the pawl-arm m23 and disengage the pawl from the ratchet, as shown in Fig. 25

The pusher-plate m is notched to allow it to pass the finger 'rn7 without tripping when no envelope is present; but in case an envelope is carried forward by the pusher its contact with the finger will move it a short distance, raising the arm m9 and causing the spring m12 to instantly trip the finger and rock the shaft m8, thereby raising the camshaped arm m24 and allowing the weighted end of the pawl to engage the ratchet-wheel and move it one tooth by the oscillation of the bell-crank lever, as described, which is timed to follow each forward movement of the pusher.

A pin r extendinglaterally from the pusherlever over the finger m7 strikes the radial arm mi on its backward motion whenever the finger has been tripped, depressing it and raising the finger m7 again in position to be moved by the next succeeding envelope.

The ratchetwheel m15 is divided into twentyfive teeth, so that the passage of twenty-five envelopes will cause the entire rotation of the ratchet m15 and shaft m14. The worm m18 engages a gear'mf on a vertical spindle which extends up through a hollow stand or post on the table B, supporting a graduated and numbered dial N, Fig. 3, and an index-nger on the vertical spindle indicates the total number of envelopes made by the machine. As the ratchet-wheel m15 completes a revolution an envelope is moved cndwise beyond the others as it is carried into the till, marking ott' the envelopes into bunches of twenty-five each, by means of a plate mi, with an edge m27 standing obliquely to the line of motion of the envelopes as they move into the till. This plate is mounted upon a bent arm m28, attached to a sleeve m29, which rotates on a stud held in the stand m30. An arm m31 extends horizontally from the sleeve m29 and rests on the periphery of the plate-wheel m16. An arm attached to sleeve m2 extends upward with a spring m32, attached to a rigid portion of the machine, and whose tension holds the horizontal arm m31 firmly pressed upon the edge -of the platewheel m16. I

At each revolution of the plate-wheel a notch m83 is brought beneath the horizontal arm m31, permitting the spring m32 to rock the sleeve m29 on its stud and carry the plate m26 forward into the path of the envelopes as they are carried forward into the till, the end of the envelope coming in contact with the oblique edge m27, which moves the envelope laterally as it rests on its edge upon the ways m. An opening m34 in the plate m of the pusher allows it to pass the plate m25. The next movement of the plate-wheel m15 raises the horizontal arm m31 and removes the plate m26 out of the path of the envelopes. By this method of moving the envelope a very small pressure applied against the end is sufficient to overcome the slight resistance of the envelope moving endwise and resting on its edge, with but its own weight to sustain.

Vtfe have not considered it necessary in the above description of the several operations of our improved machine to show and particularly describe the several actuating-cams, as it would only involve details of construction, and, with the motions of the operating parts of the machine given, the formation and arrangement of the requisite cams to produce these motions will be readily understood by any one skilled in the art of constructing envelope-machines.

The objective result ot' that part of our invention which relates to the arrangement and combination of the several mechanisms concerned in the production of an envelope is illustrated in Fig. 27, which shows the several positions of the envelope during the successive operations of gumming, folding, drying, and bunching.

The blanks R are presented to the gummer, as at l, Fig. 27, with their seal-flaps foremost, as the seal-flaps receive the largest amount of gum, and therefore the lifting of the forward edge of the blank is better assured, permitting the carriage to pass beneath it and carry it' to position 2. When folded the sealf'lap 9 occupies the position seen at 3, Fig. 27,

and by the action of the delivery mechanism it passes, as indicated by the curved lines, to position 4, with the seal-flap downward and rearward; thence to position 5 in the drier, and by the rotation of the drier to position G. Then itis withdrawn from the drier and falls by its own weight through a curved chtite to position 7, with the seal-Hap downward, the folded side of the envelope beingv brought next the pusher.

The seal-flap when freshly gum med has a tendency to curl outward,-owing tolthe expansion of the gummed surface, and when dried it has a tendency to curl inward for the opposite reason. This tendency of the sealfiap to curl, together with its semi-detached relation to the envolpe, renders the position of the envelope during the several operations, as shown in Fig. 27, advantageous to the perfect and rapid manufacture.

We do not claim to be the first who have ever caused the envelope to be presented, to the operations of a machine in any of the positions shown in Fig. 27, for they have individ ually been secured in other machines; but our present machine, so far as we know, is the first to secure the advantages of all these po` IOC IIC

rif

is shown in detail in Figs. 28, 29, and 30, but is omitted from the views of the machine, as its application'will be readily understood'.

To a stand n, which is secured to the top of the table B, We pivot a lever whose long' arm n extends above and in front ofthe rotating drier. From this armvngers n? extend down- Ward in position to be struck byany envelope which projects beyond the racks as the drier rotates. The short arm n3 of the lever engages a notch in a bar 'n4 and serves as a latch to hold it in position. The bar n4 has a slot n at its upper end, inclosingapiu in the stand n, while its lower end is pivoted atfzg, Fig. 8, to the cam-plate fu, by which the pawls of the feeding ratchet-wheel]C9 are disengaged.

In case an envelope has not been completely carried into the drier it' will be brought against the fingers n2, lifting them and depressing the short arm n3 of the lever and unlatching the bar 014,wl1ich slides down in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 30, rotating the cam plate f21 and disengaging the pawls, when the feeding-table f, suspended on the crank f3, falls and withdraws the supply of blanks.

We do not confine ourselves to any specific construction of connecting mechanism with the feed-pawls or other parts of the machine, the essential feature of our invention consisting of a body interposed in the path of an envelope projecting from the drier. In order lto retain the envelopes in the drier as they pass beneath it, an inclosing shell or case or one or more curved bars, as at P, Fig. 3, may

be used.

In order to check the rotation of the drier, we employ a brake applied to the side of one o1' both of the disks (illustrated in-'Fig 28) and consisting of an adjusting-screwjo, held in a rigid arm p" attached to the framework ofthe machine, and between the end of the screw and the side of the disk we interpose an elastic washer or curved spring-plate p2.

I The trippingfinger Vibrates between the positions shown in Figs. 23 and 25, itslowest position being represented in the former and its highest in the latter figure, and the vibra-A tory motion of the linger can be limited by any of the well-known form of stops, by which the angular motion of the carryingshaft m8 maybe limited. We have'not therefore deemed it necessary to illustrate any particular form of such limiting device.

We do not con lineourselves to the specific form of spring m12 employed for tripping the linger m7, as a blade-spring could be applied to aV-shaped projection on the rocking shaftk m8 in a manner well known to mechanics.

The wa s m form li s or offsets ats which hold the envelopes in the bunch as the pusher moves back. The upper edges of the envelopes are similarly retainedv in the bunch'in our machine by a lip s on the bar t, (shown in Figs. 22 and 23,) with its central portion removed and attached to the levers t', hinged at t2 to the sides of the till, permitting the lipped bart to be raised When'required.

' What we claim as our invention to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A l. The combination with a feedingtable of a shaft, a ratchet wheel attached to said shaft, actuating and retaining pawls engaging said ratchet wheel and a crank arm attached to one end of said shaft and operatively connected with said table to bring said table to its highest position when said crank arm is at its highest dead center', said crank arm being capable of a complete revolution, whereby said arm, when at its highest position, will lower the table by its continued forward movement, substantially as described. f 2. The combination with the feeding table, of a shaft operatively connected with said table, a ratchet Wheel attached. to said shaft, actuating and retaining pawls engaging said ratchet Wheel, a pivoted fratne carrying said actuating pawl, and a spring applied to sustain the weight of said frame, substantially as described.

The combination with the feeding table, of a shaft operatively connected with said ta- ,and desire ble, a ratchet wheel attached to said shaft, an

actuating pawl engaging said ratchet wheel, a

' reciprocating rod having lugs attached thereto, arranged to engage and'operate said actuating pawl, and adjusting screws heldin said lugs, substantially as described.

4. The comb'ination with the feeding table, ot' a shaft operatively connected with said table, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, an actuating pawl engaging said ratchet wheel, a reciprocating rod having projecting lugs'arranged toA move said pawl, and a finger attached to said rod and extending over and resting upon the pile of blanks held on said feeding table, whereby the downward motion of said rod is Y limited, andthe extent of its reciprocating motion varied to correspond with the height of the pile of blanks, substantially as described. 5.A The combination with the feeding table, of the mechanism for elevating the same and consisting of a shaft f4, a ratchet wheelfg, retaining pawlf22, frame fg, actuating pawl]8 having connected mechanism by which they are operated to produce an intermittent rotaryv motion of said shaft, and a crank arm attached to the eud of said shaft'and operatively connected with said table to bring it into its highest position when said crank arm is on its highest dead center, whereby said table is lowered by the continued forward motion of said crank arm, substantially as described.

6. The'combination with the feeding table of an envelope machine, for presenting a pile of blanks to the action of the gumming mechanism, and guides at one side of the pile of blanks, against which they are held in proper position to receive the gum, of tapered gages f, on arms pivoted to the rigid portions of IOO tos

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the machine, and springs f28 applied to press the tapered gages against the pile of blanks and hold it against the guides, as described.

7. The combination with the devices for placing gum upon the blanks in an envelope machine, and a gumming roll having a reciprocating motion to and from a gum supply over said gumming devices and having a gear wheel attached to its shaft, of a rack lying in the path of, and in mesh with, said gear wheel, said rack having a longitudinal sliding motion, through connected operating mechanism, so timedwith reference to the passage of the gumming roll over the surfaces of said gumming devices, as to vary the su rface of the gumming roll in contact with said gumming devices.

8. The combination with pickups, having a vertically reciprocating motion, carrying gum to the blanks in an envelope machine, of a gum box placed at one side of said pickups, and a gumming roll with a horizontally reciprocatingr motion to and from said gum box over the gumming surfaces of said pickups, said gumming roll moving in one direction only at each complete reciprocation of the pick-ups, and having connected operating mechanism substantially as described at the I end of its outward movement, whereby it is rotated on its axis, so as to present a new surface to 4the pick-ups during its return, or 'inward, movement.

9. The combination of a rocking shaft a,

provided with radial arms a, a gumming roll a5, links a2 connecting said roll and said radial arms, a rocking sleeve c11 held concentrically on said shaft a and having a radial arm e3, a sliding i'ack e2, connected with said radial arm e3 and a gear c on the shaft of said gu mining roll, whereby the action of said rockshaft a, and concentric sleeve c will produce a conjoint motion of said rack and'said gumming roll, substantially as described.

l0. The combination with a feeding table, upon which the pile of blanks is supported, of a vertically reciprocating slide d4 provided with an overhanging arm carrying the pickups, a lever d5 and a yielding connection bctween said lever and said slide, consisting of a link dl connected with said lever, a Arod d8 connected with said slide and capable of sliding within said link and a spring di interposed between-said rod and said link, substantially as described.

1l. The combination with the folding bed of an envelope machine of a folder for folding the back-flaps, said folder consisting of a rocking shaft journaled at one side of the folding bed with a channel or groove forming a lip extending the length of said folding bed, and an arm attached to said shaft, and a folding plate connected with saidarm and adapted to press upon the back-Hap, said folding plate vhaving its edge resting in the groove of the shaft and against the lip, as described.

l2. In -the folding mechanism of an envelope machine, the combination of a vibrating arm, a folder plate connected with said vibrating arm, a screw threaded sleeve carried in said vibrating arm and provided with a iianged end opposing said folding plate and an elastic washer interposed between said folding plate and the flanged end of said screw threaded sleeve, substantially as described.

13. The combination in the folder for folding the back-flap of an envelope, of a vibrat ing arm, a folder plate connected with said arm by a bolt, an elastic washer resting against the surface of said plate through which the force is applied from said arm to said plate, and a screw threaded sleeve held in said arm and inclosing the connecting bolt and with its end resting against the elastic washer, whereby the space between said vibrating arm and said folding plate is varied, as de scribed.

14. The combination in a folder for folding the baclctlap of an envelope, of a vibrating arm, a folder plate connected to said arm by a screw threaded bolt, a screw threaded sleeve held in said arm, an elastic washerinterposed between said folding plate and said screw threaded sleeve and an adjusting nut carriedby said screw threaded bolt and bearing against the opposite end of said screw threaded sleeve, substantially as described.

l5. In a folder for folding the back-[lap of au envelope, of a vibrating arm attached to a rocking rod or spindle, whose axis lies in the horizontal plane of the folding bed, said rod having a channel or groove extending the length ot' the folding bed, a folding plate whose edge rests in said channel, said plate being operatively connected with said vibrat ing arm with the edge of the folding plate bearing against the side of said channel, substantially as described.

16. In the folding bed of an envelope machine, consisting of a central section, and a vertically adjustable rectangular frame surrounding said central section, the combination with said adjustable portion, of a series of levers with one end of each lever supporting said adjustable portion, and havingmeans connected with their opposite ends whereby they may be depressed and the adjustable portion of the bed raised, as described.

17. The combination with the folding bed of an envelope machine, consisting of a central section, and a surrounding rectangular portion vertically adjustable with reference to said central section, of levers whose free ends support the adjustable portion of the bed, and screws h4 passing through the opposite ends of said levers, whereby they are depressed and the adjustable portion of the bed raised, as described.

1S. The combination with the folding bed of an envelope machine, consisting of a central section, and a surrounding rectangular section vertically adjustable with reference to said central section, of levers h2, h2, and h3, fulcrumed midway theirlength, and supportting said adjustable section on their free ends,

screws h4, and chairs h5, as described.

19. The combination with the folding bed of anenvelope machine, of the scroll shaped 'wings j, attached to rings 3'2, rotating on bearing arms, as described.

surface of the folding table, and having a ro-' 2l. The combination with the folding bed of an envelope machine, and mechanism for raising and carrying the envelope off the folding bed, of flanges, or guides, js, and ver- .tical flanges jg, as described.

22. The combination with vibrating wings for delivering the envelopes from'the folding table, said wings raising and carrying the envelopes in a circular path, substantially' as described, of the curved guards jl", to resist the centrifugal motion of the envelopes.

23. The combination with the drier, and the reciprocating wings j, j, and a reciprocating conveyer 7c of the side plates j forming guides whereby the envelope is held from lateral displacement as it is delivered to said conveyer, substantially as described.

24. The combination with mechanism for delivering the envelopes from the folding bed, consisting of the vibrating wingsj, journaled with their axis of'rotation raised above the lation of one halfvof a revolution, of a conveyer, consisting of a plate upon which the envelopes are laid by the vibrating wings j, said plate having a reciprocating motion, conveying the envelope to the drying mechanism,l

as described.

25. The combination with mechanism for raising the envelope from the folding table of an envelope machine with its seal flap uppermost as it is folded and turning the envelope so as to bring its seal flap downward and delivering the same to a conveyer by which it is carried to the drying mechanism, substantially as described, of a conveyer, con` sisting of a reciprocating plate operated through connected actuating mechanism, said plate having a projecting curved rib la', as described. n.

26. The combination with mechanism for raising the envelopefrom the folding table and delivering the saine to a conveyer, by which itis carried to the drying mechanism,` of a conveyer, consisting of a plate reciprocated through connected operating mechanism, said plate having a depression to receive the seal-flap, as described.

27. The combination with the drier of an envelope machine, of a reciprocating conveyer plate lc, provided upon its upper surface with a depression adapted to receive the seal fiap and havinga hook la by which the envelope is pushed into the drier and a hook k2 upon its lower surface by which the envelope is withdrawn from the drier, substantially as described.

28. The combination with the drying mechanism of an envelope machine, of conveyer lo, attached to the slide h5, cranks k6, and 109, crank shaft las, connecting rod klo, and actuating cam 7cm, all operating as described.

29. The combination of a reciprocating conveyer vfor carrying envelopes from the folding to the drying mechanism, having connected kmeans for operating the same, said conveyer consistingv of vplate k having a depression in its surface to receive the seal flap of the envelope, and a rotating drier having fingers -which lift the envelope from the conveyer, as

described.

30. The combination with the drier, of a reciprocatingconveyer plate lc, provided with a depression in its upper surface to receive the seal flap of the envelope and having hooks 7c and tby which an envelope is pushed into and withdrawn from the drier, and a chute arranged to receive the withdrawn envelope, substantially as described.

3l. A rotating drier for envelope-machines, consisting of a revolving drum, composed of two parallel disks, said disks having racks attached, forming a series of pockets, around the periphery of the drum adapted to receive the envelopes and maintain them in a radial position.

32. A drier for envelope machines, consisting of a revolving drum having a series of pockets arranged aroundits periphery and adapted to hold the envelopes in a radial position, said pockets having openings to allow radial currents of air to pass from the center of the drum outward and overthe surfaces of the envelopes held in said pockets, as described.

A drier for envelope machines, consisting of a revolving drum, composed of two par- IIO allel disks havingracks attached and eXtend- 'i ing around their periphery and adapted to hold the envelopes in a radial position, said disks having concentric anges on their inner surfaces on which the edges of the envelopes rest, as described.

34. A. drier for envelope machines consisting of a revolving drum, having a series of racks arranged around its periphery adapted to maintain the envelopes in a radial position and admit the free circulation of air over their surfaces, and a central chamber containing a revolving fan,by which airis driven radially outward and over the envelopes held in said racks, as described.

35. The combination with a revolving drier for envelope machines, having connected means for forcing air from the center radially outward, of racks arranged around the periphery of the drier and adapted to hold envelopes in a radial position, said racks having their 5 drum having pockets arranged around its periphery and a central revolving fan wheel, by which air currents are forced outward and over the surfaces of the envelopes held in said pockets, of a series of openings arranged 1 o concentrically about the axis of the revolving drum, and a rotating register Zn, by which the volume of air passing over the envelopes is varied, as described.

37. The combination with the revolving drier of an envelope machine, of an actuating ratchet wheel, having connected operating mechanism, said ratchet wheel having a slot, and a screw bolt passing through said slot into the drier, whereby the position of the 2o drier may be changed relatively to said ratchet wheel, as described.

38. The combination of disks L, L', having flanges Z4, and racks forming pockets for euvelopes, said racks consisting of bars Z' attached to the disks at Z, cross bars Z'l2 connecting the inner ends of the bar-s Z', and central fingers Z3, as described.

39. The combination of disks LL', lianges Z4, racks composed of bars Z', attached to said o disks, cross bars Z2, central fingers Z3, central 3 fan Zw, openings Z2", and register F1, as described.

40. The combination with the mechanism of an envelope machine for gummingand l folding an envelope blank, whereby said blank is operated upon with its seal flap foremost, of the vibrating wings,substantially as described, by which the folded envelope is reversed so as to bring its back flap foremost as 4o it is delivered to the drying mechanism.

4l. The combination with ways upon which the envelopes are delivered from the drying mechanism, and a reciprocating pusher by which the envelopes are moved along said A5, ways into bunches, as described, of a pivoted tripping finger, whose free end stands, in its normal position, in the path of. the envelope as it is moved by the pusher, and a spring whose tension is applied to said pivoted iin- `Jo ger in a line passing near its axis of rotation,

so that a slight movement ofthe pivoted finger by the moving envelope will cause the force of said' spring to be exerted on the opposite side of the axis of said Iinger, thereby tripping the finger and withdrawing it from the path of the envelope, as described.

42. VThe combination with the pusher in, attached to a pivoted lever 'm2, having connected mastic means for operating the saine, pin r, pivoted finger m7, having an arm m, and aspring m12, Whose tension is applied to the arm m, as described.

43. The combination with rocking shaft 'm8, having a finger attached, actuated by the passage of an envelope into the till, arm m24, on said rocking shaft, pawl m20, having connected means for actuating the same, the arm m24 acting on the tail of the pawl m20 ratchet wheel m15, connected with and operating the counting mechanism, as described.

44. The combination with mechanism for bunching the envelopes in an envelope inachine, of a plate brought into the path ot' the envelopes at stated intervals, as 'determined by the passage ofthe envelopes into the bunch, said plate presenting an inclined surface to the edge of certain of the passing envelopes whereby they are carried out beyond the remaining envelopes, as described.

45. The combination with ways m', on which the vedges of the envelopes restas they are carried into the bunch, pusher m, having a slot m34, plate m26,with an inclined edge m27, said plate having connected actuating mechanism whereby it is brought into the path of certain of the envelopes as they are carried by the pusher over the ways m', as described.

46. The combination with the counting mechanism of an envelope machine, of a plate wheel m1, having a notch m17, arm mi, adapted to enter said notch, spring m32 applied to hold said arm m31 on the edge of the plate wheel, arm m28, and plate m26, having an inclined edge m27, all arranged and operating as set forth.

47. The combination with the revolving drier of an envelope machine, adapted to carry a series of envelopes held in a radial position around its edge, of a finger, or iingers, having a motion about a pivoted point, and arranged in position to be struck, and moved by a projecting envelope, said fingers having connected stopping mechanism,as described.

48. The combination with the revolving drier of an envelope machine of lingers n2, attached to the arm n', of a pivoted lever whose arm n3, engages a notch in the barn4, bar n4, attached to the cam platef, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

HENRY D. SWIFT. D. WHEELER SWIFT.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR H. BosWELL, RUFUS B. FOWLER. 

